Hurtling towards nowhere

Alex Mitchell

WATCHING Julia Gillard's government disintegrate is a gruesome revisitation of the flame-out of Kristina Keneally's government two years ago.

The state's first female premier, Keneally was selected after a caucus coup masterminded by factional overlord Eddie Obeid against premier Nathan Rees.

Her administration was dogged by crises. Transport minister David Campbell resigned after he was filmed leaving a massage parlour, health minister John Della Bosca resigned over an affair with a part-time student, regional development minister Ian Macdonald was sacked over irregularities with his expenses and ports minister Paul McLeay quit after he was caught using his office computer to access porn and gambling sites. Juvenile justice minister Graham West resigned on principle over portfolio funding.

By the time of the election in March 2011, 20 Labor MPs, a third of the caucus, had jumped ship.

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According to NSW parliamentary historian David Clune, Keneally started the 2011 campaign by switching from Bambi to Boadicea. It didn't work. Is Gillard really planning an eight-month chariot ride to the same oblivion?